MAG-16 repositions forces to support Vigilant Resolve

Marine Link ^ | April 9, 2004 | Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 
MAG-16 repositions forces to support Vigilant Resolve
Submitted by: 3d Marine Aircraft Wing
Story Identification Number: 20044993633
Story by Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte



AL TAQADDUM AIR BASE, Iraq(April 9, 2004) -- Marine Aircraft Group 16 recently moved elements of its Marine Light Attack Squadron 167 in support of Operation Vigilant Resolve, which began early this month.

The move occurred April 5-6, and flight operations for the squadron kicked off as soon as boots and skids were on the deck.

A small contingent of aviation maintenance Marines, aircrews and helicopters was sent to the Sunni Triangle area to bolster forces already in place there conducting missions in the city of Fallujah.

HMLA-167's part of the operation will be the same as always, claimed Lt. Col. Christopher M. Clayton, detachment commander and squadron executive officer, HMLA-167.

"We fly hueys and cobras in support of any of our various missions," he said. "These include convoy escort, casualty evacuation, armed reconnaissance and rotary wing close air support to ground troops."

When the pilots and crews arrived, they received a brief on what they were expected to do, explained Capt. Samuel L. Meyer, day section leader and AH-1W Cobra pilot, HMLA-167.

"We received the ground scheme of maneuver and were told that we would be assisting HMLA-775," said the Garner, N.C., native. "We were told that we'd be doing anything necessary to support the mission."

Meyer explained that the aircrews received only general information on the operation itself because objectives would change on an hourly basis.

Maj. Charles D. Stout, operations officer and Cobra pilot, HMLA-167, added that the changes to mission objectives come as a result of a variable that always exists in combat.

"The operation itself has phases," the Spiro, Olka., native claimed. "We have a good idea of what will happen each day. Of course, the enemy has a vote in that."

Stout explained that the squadron is maintaining an alert status that allows them to be very responsive to the needs of Marines in the fight on the ground.

"We are on Strip Alert status," he revealed. "We are launched on the needs of the ground combat element (of the Marine Expeditionary Force). Their call goes out and we launch. It's not a lot of preplanned stuff."

U.S. forces have already shut down the entrances to the city of Fallujah and clashes between Marines and anti-coalition forces have started heating up over the last couple of days.

Operation Vigilant Resolve will deal with the anti-coalition forces that have risen up in the Iraqi city, claimed Stout.

"The city of Fallujah is a hot-bed of activity as proven by the events of March 29," he said. "It has been a thorn in the side of the coalition and the national leadership decided it was time to act."

He stated that HMLA-167 would by no means have an easy time performing their tasks throughout the region.

"The urban environment and insurgency warfare makes this more difficult," Stout explained. "We're not fighting a conventional war."

Meyer added that the objective of the operation is to secure the city Fallujah. He found out for himself on April 6, that this mission has not yet been accomplished.

"I was providing close air support to the Marines in Fallujah when I received a (rocket-propelled grenade) blast to the main rotor head," he stated.

The Cobra pilot was able to make it back to his temporary base and landed the helicopter successfully before any of the systems gave out.

Not fazed by the close call, the pilot claimed that these events are to be expected during the operation.

"These are typical problems encountered in an urban environment while providing close air support," noted Meyer.

Clayton asserted that this resolve will help the Marines, Sailors, soldiers and airmen win in the end.

"Our success rests on the determination of the pilots and aircrew," he said. "It will also be due to the superhuman efforts of our maintenance crews."

The statement came after the maintenance crew repaired the damaged helicopter and had it in the air conducting tests within a 12-hour period.

Clayton said he hopes to bring every Marine home from this operation, but the mission is first and foremost in his mind at this point.

"While my goal is to bring everyone home, there are inherent risks with what we do," he stated. "We want to fully support the Marines on the ground. Each Marine knows why they are here."

Meyer agreed and stated that he has one reason for being here, that not even enemy fire will prevent him or his fellow pilots from accomplishing.

"Our mission is to support (the ground Marines)," he concluded. "My sole existence is to support the Marine on the ground and do whatever he needs me to do to keep him alive."

The pilots of HMLA-167 are currently performing missions in support of Operation Vigilant Resolve.

-30-

Photos included with story:

	An aviation ordnance Marine watches as a AH-1W Cobra pilot taxis his helicopter to the launch point further down the runway, April 7, at Al Taqaddum air base, Iraq. The Marine and the helicopter belong to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 which is in the Sunni Triangle area in support of Operation Vigilant Resolve. Photo by: Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte
	The lead AH-1W Cobra takes off while the trail helicopter waits for its turn to launch, April 7. The helicopters and pilots are part of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, which sent a small group of helicopters to support Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775 with the tasks of convoy escorts, casualty evacuation escort and providing close air support to ground troops. Both squadrons are currently supporting Operation Vigilant Resolve. Photo by: Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte
	Aviation Ordnance Marines give signals to the pilots of a AH-1W Cobra while they do a last minute check of the helicopter's weapons systems, April 7. The pilots keep their hands above their heads as a safety precaution while the ordnance Marines check the systems. The Marines are from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, which sent a small contingent of helicopters and personnel to Al Taqaddum air base in support of Operation Vigilant Resolve. Photo by: Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte
	A flightline mechanic walks off the flightline as an AH-1W Cobra pilot taxis to the end of the runway, April 7. The Marines and helicopter belong to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167. The Squadron is reinforcing other helicopter squadrons in the Sunni Triangle Area all of which are taking part in Operation Vigilant Resolve. Photo by: Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte
	An AH-1W Cobra flies over the outskirts of Al Ramadi, Iraq, April 6. The Helicopter was providing escort to a CH-46 Sea Knight, which was conducting a casualty evacuation mission in the middle of the city during Operation Vigilant Resolve. The Cobra belongs to Marine Light Attack Squadron 167, which is in the Sunni Triangle area in support of the operation. Photo by: Sgt. Nathan K. LaForte

[Spruce]

Now is not a good time to be an enemy of the USMC. May God bless them!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

A small contingent of aviation maintenance Marines, aircrews and helicopters was sent to the Sunni Triangle area to bolster forces already in place there conducting missions in the city of Fallujah.

HMLA-167's part of the operation will be the same as always, claimed Lt. Col. Christopher M. Clayton, detachment commander and squadron executive officer, HMLA-167.

"We fly hueys and cobras in support of any of our various missions..."

 

"......My sole existence is to support the Marine on the ground and do whatever he needs me to do to keep him alive."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167

 

 

 

 

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[MeekOneGOP]

Forget the arrest warrant .... Kill Sadr !!

[Happy2BMe]

"Forget the arrest warrant .... Kill Sadr !!"

Sadr is nothing more than an Iranian agent. These same Iranian agenst were instrumental in killing our Marines in Lebanon in 1983.

And they have heavily infiltrated all of the Muslims throughout Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and much of the entire Middle East.

We are just now getting a good dose of what Israel has had to put up with for the past 56 years (her entire existence).

The Islamic Jihad insurrection fires won't go out until the ones inflaming them (IRAN) has been extinguished - and maybe not even then.

But as for the challenge and danger of the moment - Iran is the inspiration, funding, and leadership behind the present resurgence of Jihad against the American infidels.

While Saddam may have been the head, Iran and the mullahs providing the instigators are the long (very long) tail.

Onward Muslim Soldiers ping.

[boxerblues]

Forget the arrest warrant .... Kill Sadr !!

I'll second that.

[Happy2BMe]

"......My sole existence is to support the Marine on the ground and do whatever he needs me to do to keep him alive."

That is a VERY GOOD REASON to be alive!

God bless and protect Lt. Col. Clayton and all our men and women fighting in Iraq.

There Are Good People Still In This Country

[MeekOneGOP]

bump !! ....

[MeekOneGOP]

bump !! ....

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[KriegerGeist]

Forget the arrest warrant .... Kill Sadr !!

I heard someone say, and I think that I agree with them, that killing al Sadr would not be the best thing to do. Martyrdom is what he would welcome. Killing and totally wiping out all of his forces everywhere in every town: aresounding yes! But, for al Sadr himself, capture and humiliation (frog marching him in shackles) like Saddam on camera is the best way, then send him off to Gitmo. Yes, it may incite his followers to go fanatical, but then that makes them do stupid things that in turn make our soldiers eliminating them easier.

This al Sadr is not a religous nor spiritual leader. He is an Iranian agent and gangster with his "bloods" or "cripps" following ("his boyz in his hood") only this ain't his "hood" and only a portion of them are "his boyz" and on closer inspection, will be found to be full-blown-bonifide Iranians. I may be wrong and the person (whom I can't remember whose name it was that said it) may be wrong as well. But, in my opinion: take our Iran's snake heads now in a ver big dramatic, shock & awe way.

[Happy2BMe]

I agree - we need to approach al sadr in terms of capturing instead of killing him.

The Muslims are masters of psychological terror.

We should learn a thing or two from them.

[SandRat]

These Cobra's are deadly.

Here's to hoping that they keep bitting the enemy until there is no more.

[PhilDragoo]

I heard some bad words on Fox News today and I'll be complaining to the FCC.

Vile words like "negotiation" and "cease-fire".

We're talking with al-Sadr and his maggots.

To the Commander In Chief:

Among the lessons learned from Bush41: finish the job; kill the snake.

Among the lessons learned from traitorrapist42: no deals, no lawyers, no Miranda, no grand jury testimony sealed; kill the snake.

I for one don't want to be paying 87 billion to insure Iran West is established in Iraq--

Stop coddling scumbags like al-Sadr and get their heads in jar on your desk or you won't have it next year.

[SAMWolf]

Vile words like "negotiation" and "cease-fire".

I agree, you should have heard me ranting when I heard we called a unilateral cease-fire.

IMHO, Orders that anyone seen carrying a weapon be shot on sight and if any hostages are killed, no more prisoners be taken should be given.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[MeekOneGOP]

To #14-15: